# CW Decoder vs Hotaru

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hotaru at none against CW Decoder's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CW Decoder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hotaru asks for nothing beyond the download.

CW Decoder ships an update weekly, Hotaru every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CW Decoder | Hotaru |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 6 days** |
| Size | 12 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Keiya Chiba](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740986591) | [KARABINA, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895509103) |

## What reviewers say

### CW Decoder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cw-decoder/id6748900681)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Full Version | $2.99 | one-time |


### Hotaru

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotaru-live-penlight/id6768536121)

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CW Decoder free?

CW Decoder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hotaru free?

Hotaru is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do CW Decoder or Hotaru have ads?

Neither CW Decoder nor Hotaru shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CW Decoder or Hotaru?

CW Decoder ships an update weekly, and Hotaru every 6 days. Most recently, CW Decoder was updated on September 25, 2026 and Hotaru on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*